NOVA ET VETURA
Sometimes
the old is good; other times it is not. There are people who collect
antiques, not for functional reasons but only for aesthetics. But there
are others who shun anything that could remotely be considered old, and
that can mean even the previous model of cell phone, computer or car.
What is it that drives us to be up to date in some aspects of our lives
and yet are happy with the old in others? As I grew up in Canberra,
Australia, for most of my formative years, the motto of the archbishop
was “Nova et vetura,” which in Latin means “the new and the old.”
In the Gospel today, Jesus reminds us that there are times when the new
displaces the old. These are times when we no longer need the old ways
of doing things as we face new developments in society. Those who have
lived through the ‘80s and ‘90s of the 20th century
experienced firsthand with the advent of personal computers and cell
phones. Access to information has been revolutionized through the use of
the Internet. Are these good or bad developments?
The answer to my question lies in how we use this new technology. It
can be used for both good and bad. That it is new technology is
irrelevant to its moral character. Jesus tells us that there are times
when we need to embrace both the new and the old. There is a lot of
wisdom enshrined in the knowledge of the past that we need to honor. We
also need to embrace new developments and use them for good. This is a
challenge for us all — to discern what we need to embrace in the present
and what to hold on to from the past. Fr. Steve Tynan,
MGL
REFLECTION
QUESTIONS: How do you embrace the new and the old in your faith? Do you
truly respect the wisdom of the ages through the lives of the saints
and their writings?
Holy
Spirit, open my heart and mind to the wisdom of the Church in the
writings of the saints. Help me to deepen my love for them and learn
from their example.
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